April 13, 2018
CapitalPress.com
3
NARROW & LOW...
between
the rows...
Courtesy of Lance Kirk
Independence, Ore., ha-
zelnut grower Lance Kirk
is president of the Oregon
Hazelnut Society.
Industry leader sees bright
future for hazelnut growers
By JAN JACKSON
For the Capital Press
Lance Kirk is predicting a
banner year for Oregon’s ha-
zelnut industry.
Elected president of the
Oregon Hazelnut Society last
winter, Kirk is a long-time
Independence, Ore., hazelnut
grower.
“It’s an exciting time for
this industry,” Kirk said. “We
have so many new growers
planting orchards and the at-
tendance at the winter meet-
ing told us they are looking
for as much information as
they can get to help them.”
OHS, which doesn’t buy or
sell nuts, is the education arm
of the industry, he said. “At
the speed with which Oregon
State University is working
on improving both varieties
and methods of growing ha-
zelnuts, everyone wants to
know what’s going on.”
Kirk, a third-generation
hazelnut grower, grew up on
his parents’ farm in Indepen-
dence. He attended Cascade
High School and holds a de-
gree in general agriculture
from Oregon State University.
“Grandpa got us started in
the hazelnut business in the
early 1980s,” he said. “We
started raising hops and ha-
zelnuts, though we no longer
raise hops.”
He left the farm and
worked 17 years for ag sup-
plier Wilbur-Ellis.
“But when I had an oppor-
tunity to return to the farm and
raise a family, I took it,” Kirk
said. “I have 14-year-old twin
boys who right now are more
interested in basketball than
what they see as farmwork,
but I have hope that they may
be interested in carrying on
some day.”
Kirk, who sells to George
Packing Co. in Newburg, built
a processing plant and is a re-
ceiving station for growers
from Salem south to Eugene.
He is optimistic about the
future.
“Our industry seems big
to us, but if we want to get
our product into Hershey and
other products, our volume is
going to have to increase dra-
matically,” Kirk said. “I think
we are going to see it climb as
soon as this year. I’m encour-
aged when I see new orchards
everywhere, off back roads
and I-5. The new acres plant-
ed over eight years ago are al-
ready maturing so we should
see an increase in production
very soon.”
When asked about the
prospects of the new hardy
varieties Rutgers University
is hoping will bring hazelnuts
back to the East Coast, Kirk
believes that will help Oregon
growers as well.
He pointed out that many
people there don’t even know
what hazelnuts are. When
eastern farmers start growing
them again, people will start
using the nuts in many more
different recipes and products,
increasing demand.
In addition to Kirk and
Sons Hazelnuts, he is a con-
sultant, works with the bar-
gaining association and hosts
Summer Ag Institute teacher
farm visits.
“I’m optimistic about
the industry and all the
new growers, though I
wasn’t prepared for the re-
cord-breaking attendance at
the OHS winter meeting,”
he said. “I did realize my
lucky streak ran out when
I realized after successful-
ly avoiding public speaking
all through high school and
college I was going to have
to speak to 900 growers in
January.
“The good news is, all of
those enthusiastic growers
bodes well for the hazelnut
industry in Oregon.”
Online
For more information on
the Oregon Hazelnut Society,
visit www.oregonnuts.org .
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